Guitar Shorty’s My Way or the Highway

When people describe music as “smokin’,” this is what they have in
mind.  This session (from 1991) has a big, open sound with
occasional instrumentation in the rear.  The musical complement
includes guitars, bass, organ, saxophones, trumpet, and
harmonica.  Oh, man…Can these guys play!  From the first beat
you can’t help but start grooving.  Like some of the other blues
discs reviewed, the players aren’t often concerned about being
politically correct.  On the first track, Guitar Shorty dogs on
his woman for being uneducated.  The third track is less blues and
more swing/dance with the horns figuring prominently into the
equation.  The fourth cut is slower and makes heavy use of the
Hammond.  Guitar is featured heavy on all the tracks, but that’s a
good thing, because Shorty’s guitar work is amazing.  All 11 1/2
minutes of track seven is a tour de force of guitar playing that
reminds me of Albert King, Stevie Ray, and Otis Rush.  There are
so many great tracks on this disc is gets a big thumbs up!  Sound
quality is very good except for a tiny bit too much sizzle and splash
in the high frequencies, but don’t let that stop you from getting this
one.